Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Mar 1;5(2):340-4.
doi: 10.1177/193229681100500221.

The potential of virtual reality technologies to improve adherence to weight loss behaviors

Michael J Coons  1 , Megan Roehrig, Bonnie Spring
Affiliations

The potential of virtual reality technologies to improve adherence to weight loss behaviors

Michael J Coons et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. .

Abstract

A significant proportion of the global population is obese, foreshadowing an epidemic of chronic disease. Self-monitoring (of diet, exercise, and body weight), decreasing energy intake, and increasing energy expenditure are robust predictors of successful weight loss. However, few individuals consistently practice these behaviors, making long-term weight loss and maintenance unlikely. Technologies afford unique opportunities to overcome barriers and increase the reach of traditional obesity interventions. In this article, we introduce ENGAGED, a technology-enhanced modification of the Diabetes Prevention Program designed to improve adherence to weight loss behaviors. Using a treatment implementation framework, we suggest how virtual reality technologies might further improve the delivery, receipt, and enactment of ENGAGED to maximize patient impact.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Curtin LR. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008. JAMA. 2010;303(3):235–241. - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight: fact sheet 311. Updated September 2006. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/index.html. Accessed October 22, 2010.
    1. Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, Dietz WH, Vinicor F, Bales VS, Marks JS. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, 2001. JAMA. 2003;289(1):76–79. - PubMed
    1. Poirier P, Giles TD, Bray GA, Hong Y, Stern JS, Pi-Sunyer FX, Eckel RH. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: pathophysiology, evaluation, and effect on weight loss. Atheroscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006;26(5):968–976. - PubMed
    1. Alhassan S, Kim S, Bersamin A, King AC, Gardner CD. Dietary adherence and weight loss success among overweight women: results from the A to Z weight loss study. Int J Obes (Lond) 2008;32(6):985–991. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types